MRI costs vary depending on whether the treatment is covered by Medicare.
Medicare and private health insurance can cover MRI scans.
While it can be expensive, an MRI is often completely free for many Australians.
How much does an MRI cost?
Although the total cost of an MRI scan varies depending on the part of the body being imaged, costs generally range from $300 and $1,000.
Both Medicare and private health insurance (in some cases) can pay towards the cost of the MRI scan, so long as the type of MRI scan you're receiving is on Medicare Benefit Schedule (MBS) – meaning you're eligible for a rebate. The MRI machine must also be fully or partially licensed.
If you're treated in a public hospital as an inpatient and they bulk-bill, you might not have any out of pocket expenses.
To avoid out of pocket expenses, make sure you ask your doctor if you're entitled to a Medicare rebate.
What if I'm not eligible for a Medicare rebate?
Look for a top level health insurance policy that covers health screening tests (which can include MRI's), such as Medibank Gold Ultra.
Health insurance for MRI scans
Keep in mind that MRI scans are not a clinical category, they're a treatment type. If you need an MRI scan for a particular treatment, then your private health insurance will cover some of the costs if your policy covers that particular type of illness – for example, cancer.
Why compare health insurance with Finder?
We don't ask for your phone or email to see prices.
With 1 click, you can open your results to nearly every fund in Australia.
You pay the same price as going direct – we charge no fees.
Depending on your age, you may be eligible for an
aged-based discount. This is used to estimate your
rebate.
Under 65
65 - 69
70 or older
What's your household's taxable income?
This is the combined income you and your spouse earn before tax. It's needed to calculate the correct Australian government rebate.
$93,000 and under
$93,001 to $108,000
$108,001 to $144,000
$144,001 and over
What kind of health insurance do you need?
Combined (Extras + Hospitals)
Extras
Hospital
What level of hospital coverage would you like?
You can change this at any time later.
Legend
Covered
Restricted cover, You may be partially covered for
this category.
Not covered. Optional for insurer to include.
*Prices updated March 2024, in line with Finder's
database of health insurance policies. Prices are based
on a single individual with less than $93,000 income and
living in Sydney with a $750 excess.
What extras cover do you need? (Optional)
Select as many as you want or move to the next step
Preventative & general dental
Major dental & implants
Optical
Physiotherapy
Podiatry
Non-PBS pharmaceuticals
Chiropractic
Emergency ambulance
Remedial massage
Email me my results (optional)
To get a copy of your results for later, add your email below
You'll pay the same price as going direct - we don't
charge fees
We don't ask for your phone number to see prices
Hang tight - we're fetching policies just for you!
Comparing quotes from 40+ funds...
MRI cost: Medicare vs private health insurance
Health insurance can cover MRI scans, depending on your cover. Whether you are going the Medicare or health insurance route, always be sure to check that your treatment is covered or whether you will need to pay any upfront costs. Here are some of the ways these costs will be calculated:
Public patient in a public hospital (no health insurance): Medicare can cover 100% of the MBS fee.
Private patient in a public hospital: Medicare covers 75% with the remaining "gap" covered by your health insurer.
Private patient in a private hospital: Medicare once again covers 75% with the remainder paid by your health insurer.
Out of hospital MRI scan with specialist referral: Medicare covers 85% of the cost.
To have your MRI scan covered by health insurance, you'll need hospital cover. Each hospital insurance tier will cover a different set of conditions, so you'll need to have a product that covers your particular issue to be covered.
Does Medicare cover MRI scans in Australia?
Medicare will cover the cost of some MRI scans, depending on the reason for the scan. The Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) lists item numbers (conditions) for which benefits can be claimed. The table below lists the
Item number
Purpose of the scan
Fee charged
Medicare benefit
63551
Head scan for a patient 16 years or older to investigate:
Unexplained seizures
Unexplained chronic headaches with suspected intracranial pathology
$403.20
75%: $302.40 85%: $342.75
63554
Spinal scan for a patient 16 years or older for suspected cervical radiculopathy
$358.40
75%: $268.80 85%: $304.65
63557
Spinal scan for a patient 16 years or older for suspected cervical spine trauma
$492.80
75%: $369.60 85%: $418.90
63560
Knee scan for a patient 16 years or older following acute knee trauma with:
Inability to extend the knee suggesting the possibility of acute meniscal tear
Head scan for a patient under 16 years for any of the following:
Unexplained seizures
Unexplained headaches where significant pathology is expected
Paranasal sinus pathology, which has not responded to conservative treatment
$403.20
75%: $302.40 85%: $342.75
63510
Spinal scan for a patient under 16 years following radiographic examination for:
Significant trauma
Unexplained neck or back pain with associated neurological signs
Unexplained back pain where a significant pathology is suspected
$448.00
75%: $336.00 85%: $380.80
63513
Knee scan for a patient under 16 years following radiographic examination for internal joint derangement
$403.20
75%: $302.40 85%: $342.75
63516
Hip scan for a patient under 16 years following radiographic examination for:
Suspected septic arthritis
Suspected slipped capital femoral epiphysis
Suspected Perthes disease
$403.20
75%: $302.40 85%: $342.75
63519
Elbow scan for a patient under 16 years following radiographic examination where a significant fracture or avulsion injury is suspected that will change management
$403.20
75%: $302.40 85%: $342.75
63522
Wrist scan for a patient under 16 years following radiographic examination where scaphoid fracture is suspected
$448.00
75%: $336.00 85%: $380.80
Frequently asked questions
MRI scans generally cost between $100 and $1,000, depending on what part of the body needs to be scanned, and your specific condition.
There is no best health insurance that specifically covers MRI scans. This is because MRI scans are not a treatment category, they're a treatment type. If you need an MRI scan for a particular treatment, then your private health insurance will cover some of the cost if your policy covers the particular type of injuries or illness that you're receiving treatment for. Learn more about health insurance for MRI scans.
Finder survey: How many Australians in different states feel their hospital cover offers good value for money?
Response
WA
VIC
SA
QLD
NSW
Yes
34.91%
35.19%
38.67%
30.96%
36.42%
No
21.7%
18.52%
8%
16.24%
20.13%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1006 Australians, December 2023 Data for ACT, NT, TAS not shown due to insufficient sample size. Some other states may also be excluded for this reason.
Gary Ross Hunter was an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio
Gary Ross's expertise
Gary Ross has written 699 Finder guides across topics including:
Addiction to drugs and alcohol is a growing problem in Australia and this guide looks at the financial assistance available to addicts seeking treatment and the role played by both the public and the private healthcare systems.
Use private health insurance to save on weight loss surgery.
How likely would you be to recommend Finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Important information about this website
finder.com.au is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We are committed to our readers and stands by our editorial principles
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labeling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.
We make money by featuring products on our site. Compensation received from the providers featured on our site can influence which products we write about as well as where and how products appear on our page, but the order or placement of these products does not influence our assessment or opinions of them, nor is it an endorsement or recommendation for them.
Products marked as 'Top Pick', 'Promoted' or 'Advertisement' are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options.
Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product. You can learn more about how we make money.
When products are grouped in a table or list, the order in which they are initially sorted may be influenced by a range of factors including price, fees and discounts; commercial partnerships; product features; and brand popularity. We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you.
Please read our website terms of use and privacy policy for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Depending on your age, you may be eligible for an
aged-based discount. This is used to estimate your
rebate.
Under 65
65 - 69
70 or older
What's your household's taxable income?
This is the combined income you and your spouse earn before tax. It's needed to calculate the correct Australian government rebate.
$93,000 and under
$93,001 to $108,000
$108,001 to $144,000
$144,001 and over
What kind of health insurance do you need?
Combined (Extras + Hospitals)
Extras
Hospital
What level of hospital coverage would you like?
You can change this at any time later.
Legend
Covered
Restricted cover, You may be partially covered for
this category.
Not covered. Optional for insurer to include.
*Prices updated March 2024, in line with Finder's
database of health insurance policies. Prices are based
on a single individual with less than $93,000 income and
living in Sydney with a $750 excess.
What extras cover do you need? (Optional)
Select as many as you want or move to the next step
Preventative & general dental
Major dental & implants
Optical
Physiotherapy
Podiatry
Non-PBS pharmaceuticals
Chiropractic
Emergency ambulance
Remedial massage
Email me my results (optional)
To get a copy of your results for later, add your email below
